Driving mechanism.



G. R. WALKER. DRIV1NG MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1911.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 1,

G. R. WALKER.

DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. s, 1911.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915s V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UCK'

G. R. WALKER.

DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1911.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

l citizen of the United States, residing in the GEORGE R. WALKER, FCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVING MECHANISM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application led March 3, 1911. Serial No. 612,067.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. WALKER, a

` city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and Vuseful Improvements in Driving Mechanisms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in driving mechanisms and refersmore particularly to a mechanism for automobiles of that character inwhich the wheels are driven from the armature shaft of a motor-supported upon the axial connections.

The salient object of the invention is to provide a construction of theabove character in which the two driving wheels of electric motorvehicles are driven from a single motor supported within a hollow axle,the armature shaft of the motor being co-axial withthe center of thewheels.

Subsidiary objects of the invention are to provide a casing for housingthe motor and differential gear mechanism and in which access may bereadily had to the motor, and in general to provide simplicity indetails of construction and arrangement.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partlvin vertical section of the rear driving Wheels and axle of an electricvehicle equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view on an enlarged scale of the central part of the rearaxle. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of the same. Fig.4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the indirect line 4-i of Fig.2 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view taken on lines 5*5 of/Fig.,1. Fig. 6 is a detailedsectional view of the voke member. Fig. T is a detailfd sectional viewtaken on lines 7--7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view partlv en side elevationtaken substantiallyv at right angles to the view shown in Fig 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 designate as a whole the, traction wheelsof an automobile` and .2 the rear axle which, as shown, takes the formof a hollow spindle like casing. lVithin each of the wheels 1 issupported a speed reducing mechanism designated as ,a whole 3. Thisspeed reducing mechanism and associated parts is generally similar tothat shown in my former Patent No. 866,410 and need not be described indetail. It comprises briefly, a rim 4, having a suitable tire 5 and aninternal annular gear 6, a pair of side plates 7, and hub memriveted, asshown at 10, the side plates 7 which are also secured by bolts 11 to therim 4.

Within each wheel is mounted a yoke member 12 rigid with the axle andhaving an axially bored extension 13 which receives one end of theadjacent drive shaft 14. Between the hub members 9 and the axialextension 13 are interposed a set of Hess Bright bearings 15. Similarlybetween the journal extension 16 on the opposite side of the yoke andthe hub member 8 is interposed a set of Hess Brights 17. The yoke memberis provided with two pairs of diametric opposed radial yoke arms 18 and19 in which are mounted intermediate gears 20 and 21 which mesh with theinternal gear 6 of the wheel. Both of these intermediate gears also meshwith a center pinion 22 keyed to the adjacent end of the drive shaft 14.Vithin the journal extension 16 of each yoke is secured a spring 23which bears against the adjacent end of the drive shaft. Preferably theaxial extension 13 of the yoke is provided with strengthening ribs 24.It is understood that the driving mechanisms in the respective 'wheelsare identical in construction.

lVithin the hollow axial casing 2 is mounted a motor 25 the armatureshaft 26 of which is rotatably mounted in annular bearings Q7 supportedby brackets 28. lith in the bearings 27 are suitably secured Hess Brightbearings 29. The drive shaft 1-1 extends concentrically through thearmature shaft and is connected to the latter through the usualdifferential 30, the drive shaft being of course formed in two sectionsin the usual manner. The construction is such that the two sections ofthe drive shaft 14 are driven directly from the armature shaft, thelatter being co-axial with the center of each wheel. Access may be hadto the motor through the cover 31 provided at its opposite ends withlugs 3Q which fit between opposed lugs 33 secured tothe top of the axialcasing.

I claim as mv invention:

In a driving mechanism, the combination with a hollow axle casing, of apair of trac- 'bers 8 and 9. To these hub members are motor in the axle,jonri'ialibraekets within the axle for said motor, thi armature shaft ofsaid motor being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the wheels, `ofdrive Shafts in alinement with the armature shaft and extending into thewheels. a pinion rarried by the outer end of each drive ahaft. aphirality of intermediate gears in each wheel meshing with thecorresponding pinion and driven gear, of radial arms carried b v the i0`i'okes upon which the reapective intermediate gears are joarnaled.

GEORGE R. \.'.\LI\'I `JI{. Witnesses:

Ii. L. BIQLKNAP, Lois Folien.

